Motive Television Plc Regulatory News (MTV)

11 Mar 2008 07:02

Motive Television PLC11 March 2008 MOTIVE TELEVISION PLC (the "Company" or "Motive") TWO NEW PROGRAMME ORDERS Irish broadcaster RTE commissions two entertainment pilots Motive Television PLC ("Motive"), the AIM-quoted media investment companyspecializing in television rights and production, announces that its 100 percent. owned Irish subsidiary, Motive Television Ltd, has received orders for twonew pilot programmes from Irish broadcaster, RTE. These are the first entertainment commissions for Motive in Ireland and reflectthe company's investment into the development of new programme genres. "Creche Test Dummies" is a major new family entertainment show, based on aformat developed by one of Motive's UK companies, Brown Eyed Boy and presentedby top Irish stand-up comedian Jason Byrne. In the show parents team up with their children to compete against anotherfamily in a series of messy physical tasks, embarrassing question rounds andchildishly anarchic stunts. Presented by one of Ireland's best-loved comedians,it's a great new family entertainment show, combining humour and madcapexcitement. "Summer in the Sun" follows what really goes on when two groups of Irishstudents travel to America to live and work for the summer on "J1" visas(special visas for Irish students to spend up to 4 months in America on workingvacations). Both pilots have been commissioned by RTE Commissioning Editor of Entertainmentand Music Programmes, Eddie Doyle. Motive Executive Chairman, Mick Pilsworth, said: "This is great step forward for Motive in Ireland and makes all of the effortand investment we have put into new entertainment formats worthwhile." --ENDS-- For further information, please contact: MotiveMick Pilsworth 07968 008836 Bishopsgate Communications Ltd 020 7562 3350Jenni Herbert/ Nick Farmermotive@bishopsgatecommunications.com Notes for Editors Motive Television PLC (www.motivetelevision.co.uk) is a leading media investmentcompany, specialising in television rights owners. Based in London, it islisted on the AIM and is led by television industry experts Mick Pilsworth andIan Buckley, who between them have almost 50 years experience in the sector. Mick Pilsworth founded Chrysalis TV, Britain's first "super indy", which wassold to Bridgepoint Capital for £51 million in 2003. He and Ian Buckley firstworked together at USM-quoted independent tv production group SelecTV PLC, wherePilsworth was Managing Director and Buckley was Finance Director. SelecTV PLCwas sold to Pearson TV/United Business Media for £30m in 1996. Motive's investments include: • A 49.9% interest in comedy production company Brown Eyed Boy, whose latest hit show, "Little Miss Jocelyn" is being broadcast on BBC2. It is in production on a new sitcom for BBC3, "How Not to Live Your Life", starring Dan Clark. Brown Eyed Boy is led by former Chrysalis TV executive Gary Reich. • A 50.6% interest in Manchester-based Scarlet Television, whose recent credits include "Diana's Last Summer" for Sky 1; "What's Eating Victoria Beckham?" for FIVE; Richard E. Grant's "Elementary My Dear Viewer" and "Roald Dahl's Revolting Rule Book", both for ITV2; and "Beefcake: A Very British Sex Symbol", for BBC2. It is currently producing major programmes for ITV, Sky and Crime and Investigation Network. Scarlet TV is led by Paula Trafford. Motive acquired its stake in August 2007. • A 50% interest in Luminous Productions, which is piloting a new family entertainment show, "Creche Test Dummies", starring Jason Byrne, for RTE. Luminous is led by former Chrysalis TV executive Cillian de Buitlear. Luminous was established in July 2007. • A 100% interest in Dublin-based production company Motive Television Ltd, which produces "No Place Like Home' for Irish broadcaster RTE, and is currently in production on a major history of Gaelic games for Setanta Sport, "Part of What We Are". • A 50% interest in London-based Rumble TV Ltd, a factual entertainment production company. Rumble is led by Tony Moss and Ben Devlin. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange